On Mondays I like to walk to the Mentoring office and see which kids are hanging out, waiting for their mentors to come. After talking and joking around with them, I’ll check the mentoring bulletin board to catch any events or trips coming up. The final mentor fellowship potluck is coming up this Friday at the program director’s house. A potluck sounds like a great way to bring people together to talk, exchange stories, and share life together.

The potluck, called "3rd Friday," occurs once a month as a way to bring mentors together to pray for one another and relate to the struggles and success of being a mentor. Program staff want mentors to know they are appreciated and cared for by organizing events like this. Providing mentoring activity ideas, an annual banquet and closets full of games and supplies are just some of the other ways the program takes care of its mentors.

What I find the most interesting is everyone sharing a meal together. If you look at the life of Jesus, He ate with people all the time. He called Zacchaeus out of a tree and dined with him that night. Jesus ate with Matthew, the tax collector, and before he died He shared a meal with his 12 closest followers. I think the importance of sharing meals comes from inviting someone into your home. How many times have you thought, “ I have to clean up this mess before people come over!” It requires a bit of vulnerability to allow people to come to your home and share a meal.

As the mentors gather at Dan’s house to share food, they’ll also share so much more. Mentors will share their concerns in the program, and in their individual lives. Just as letting people come and eat in your home requires vulnerability, so does sharing your thoughts and feelings. Through fellowship with other believers, we can be encouraged, lifted up, and strengthened.